A Taste of Italy
With our April Italy trip in the works, it only seemed fitting to highlight my favorite country to eat my way through… Sit back, relax, and enjoy the many taste of Italy.
Let’s be honest. Food makes up a huge part of our travel experience. From starting the day with a foamy cappuccino and a buttery croissant, to a right out of the oven margherita pizza topped with fresh basil, every bite we take shapes our experience in the most delicious and authentic way. Food tells us a lot about a culture; the customs, the traditions, the mindset. Have you ever been to a group lunch in Italy? If so, you probably remember it lasting hours, several glasses of wine, shared plates passed around. A slow, relaxed lunch with good company and conversation. As I start planning our Italian group trip for April, I can’t help but start drooling thinking of the food in Italy.
As you keep reading, let yourself day dream. Imagine yourself in the piazza, the sun shining down on you, a violinist on the corner playing your favorite song, the birds chirping and blue skies, laughing and chatting with your friends. And just as you think it can’t get any better, the most perfect plate of pasta arrives, and when the waiter asks you, “parmesano”? You nod and smile as you watch the fresh flakes of local cheese land onto your soon to be lunch. While you’re at it, you ask for a 2nd glass of wine, feeling so in the moment you could cry.
If after reading this blog you find yourself in the Italian grocery store, determined to cook up the perfect dinner, or spontaneously booking a flight to Italy, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE. Blame it on the parmesan.
The many meanings behind Italian pasta
Maybe you’ve been to Italy and noticed the many names and shapes of Italian pasta. But did you know that each type of pasta is uniquely named to describe the shape, and many times have a story behind it? Let’s look at some of the names first:
Spaghetti: Little Strings
Linguine: Little tongues
Pappardelle: to gobble up
Rotelle: Little wheels
Orecchiette : Little ears
Gemelli : Twins
Strozzapreti: Priest choker
Farfalle: Butterfly
And my personal favorite….
Tortellini. Not only do I love this pasta, but it also means belly button. When you think about it, it totally makes sense. And yes, you’re right. You will never see tortellini the same again.
The Italian Aperitivo
Aperitivo. The evening drink and light snack that serves as a “warm up” to dinner. When in Italy, you cannot leave without partaking in this fabulous time of day. So what is it that makes aperitivo so great? Well first of all, the charm. There is nothing better than the energy and liveliness of aperitivo. As you look around, you see groups and friends and family catching up, reflecting on their days. But also, by ordering a drink, you are served delicious Italian snacks to nibble on. No, I don’t mean chips and peanuts. I mean actual food, mini pizzas, toasts, meat and cheese, olives, etc. Many bars actually set up a buffet inside where you can help yourself. As you sip your aperol spritz, you have the opportunity to eat a little before heading to dinner. It’s the perfect way to kick start your appetite and take the edge off your hunger as you adapt to the late Italian dinner time.
Regional Italy Delights
Emilia Romagna. Also known as the food region of Italy. The cities between Bologna and Parma offer some of the most delicious, authentic, and famous foods Italy offers. If you’re looking to be in the heart of Spaghetti Bolognese, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, sparkling wine, and parma ham, you have everything at your fingertips. From Bologna, it is an easy and cheap train ride to various small towns, which are actually the creators of some of the most famous Italian food we know.
Fun fact: Parmesan cheese didn’t actually originate in Parma as you may think! Well, sort of. The story goes way back and is still a debate between the locals of Reggio Emilia and Parma, two small towns just 30 minutes apart. The people from Reggio believe the cheese was created in Reggio, but the factories to produce it were implemented in Parma. However, the people of Parma believe the Parmesan cheese belongs to them due to producing it in their area. This on going debate is an interesting topic to bring up to the locals and hear both sides. However, the full name is Parmigiano-Reggiano, which brings together the two cities in the name. If you can’t tell by now, I love Parmesan cheese!
Aside from cheese, Modena produces the balsamic vinegar we all know and love. A little bit of this vinegar with olive oil and bread is the most satisfying and decadent snack. In Bologna, you’ll find some of the most famous chefs, restaurants, and spaghetti bolognese. Moving on to Parma, try the famous parma ham and of course, cheese! Don’t forget to pick up the local pastries and seasonal treats as well. In this region, you really can’t go wrong.
Don’t be afraid to indulge
Eating your way through Italy is the best thing you can do in your lifetime. Pasta, pizza, cheese, meats, pastries, gelato, fruit, coffee… So forget about your diet or “feeling guilty” when you go to Italy. The food is made with love from fresh, local ingredients, only filling you up with happiness. Plus, did you know that many people who are lactose intolerant can actually have dairy in Italy? Of course, don’t take my word for it. But it is something in the quality and source of the milk that doesn’t cause the same reaction as the dairy in the US. If that doesn’t say something about our food quality here, I don’t know what does!
Italy is where you truly learn to appreciate food. It feels as if you’re eating a masterpiece, carefully crafted to be so rich in flavor, yet ever so simple. Italy teaches you to slow down and soak it all in. Most importantly, Italy allows you to truly immerse yourself. My only advice? Do as the Italians do.
Now if you’re dying to get to Italy after reading this, we still have a few spots left in our April trip! After a high demand for a group trip to Italy, we are making your dreams come true. While it won’t be a mystery, we will still handle all of the details, connect you with other amazing women to travel with, and give you an experience you’ll never forget. Are you in? Sign-up here!